ABSTRACT
Two sets of triplets who were chosen to fight duels against one another in the legendary war between Rome and Alba Longa, at the time when Tullus Hostilius was believed to be king at Rome. As the two cities were afraid that a decisive battle would sap their resources beyond bearing, they agreed by an oath to settle their differences by means of a battle of champions between the two sets of brothers. Livy regards the Horatii as the
Roman and the Curiatii as the Alban family, though he adds that it was disputed which was which. Clad in full armour, the triplets attacked each other with their swords. Before long the three Albans were all wounded, and two of the Romans were killed. The third, Publius Horatius (according to the version identifying the Horatii as the Romans), was still uninjured and fled. The Curiatii, though wounded, pursued, but at different speeds; so that Horatius was able to turn and kill them one by one. On his return to Rome, carrying the spoils of his three foes, he was met by his sister, who had been engaged to marry one of the Curiatii. On seeing the dead man’s clothes, which she herself had woven, she burst into tears, whereupon her brother plunged his sword into her body with the cry, ‘So perish all Roman women who mourn a foe!’ Accused of treason for taking the law into his own hands, Publius Horatius was condemned to death. However he was so popular by now that-on appeal, it was believed, to the Assembly of the People-he was acquitted. His father purified him of blood-guilt by making him pass under a beam in token of submission to the law.
